Sporty London Prep suggestions?

[happywifey]

Hoping for some suggestions for a pre- prep/ prep for a very high energy , spirited child within London . We have only so far visited SPCS which seems nice, yet their focus while broadly academic is more towards music. We feel our DD needs one which has lots of sports to channel her energy. We are specifically looking for one which is sporty AND academic though, but not sure if this is something that even exists in London to fit our DD's needs?

We are considering moving to Kent if there really is nothing in London - Sevenoaks perhaps, but would welcome some suggestions.

We live in Central London at present.

Thanks in advance.

It’s not London but it’s only 30 mins by train into central London - have a look at Berkhamsted. Goes all the way to 18 and are national title winners in many sports.

School has a very London feel and absolutely fits the bill.

Thanks Zodlebud - will look in to it. Do you happen to know if many leave at 11 or 13 or do most stay on until 18?

The great majority stay on until 18. It attracts a lot of London parents who move out to save the pain.

If you want just a Prep then Godstowe would be an excellent choice too. Girls go onto Grammar, day and top boarding schools.

Hi OP, how old is your DD? In my part of London (Central/SW) we need to put DC down for pre-prep within weeks of their birth. I hope you haven't left it too late? You might be lucky with smaller or less competitive prep schools but I don't know... a couple on our street tried to put their DD down for a prep near us when she was 3 and they told them her DD was No.61 on the wait list for the girls!

If considering Sevenoaks, do also have a look at Walthamstow Hall prep.

Caterham and Cranleigh prep could also be good outside London options.

We have her down for SPCS (assuming she gets in) but we weren't factoring her high energy which will certainly need channeling through sports so willing to look and possibly take a punt on others. She is one.

Did you try Westminster?

Thanks nessus we are looking for girls or Co ed

Look at Putney High, Thomas’s Battersea, Kew College. There was a thread on this a few years ago already.

Many thanks for these suggestions - all!

Highgate? Not central london but easy enough to get in to it.

Try Newton Prep.

I also hear good sporting things about Feltonfleet.

Newton Prep

Newton Prep has v good sports facilities for a central London Prep school ( so a decent gym and astroturf pitch + access to Battersea park & it's sports ground for e.g. sports day and other things) & I know of at least one boy who subsequently went on to the next school with a sports scholarship. Also pretty academic. I'm out of date but would say more academic than Thomas's but prepared to be argued against on that. Not sure of latest academic policies so check that , but fairly central. Drama / theatre / music facilities also good

its not it's

Have a look at Forest School on the outskirts of North London. Amazing sports facilities and strong on the academic side too. I have one DC in the prep and another just started in the seniors. Very happy with the school so far.

Aren’t most one year olds ‘high energy’? Your DD sounds like every other child and imagine she will do fine wherever she goes. Echo suggestion of Sevenoaks. You could also look at Colfe’s.

Put her in for the Bute House ballot if it isn't too late or enter her for the 7+. They share St Paul's girls facilities so have a swimming pool, netball/tennis courts, playing field and gymnastics facilities on site. This is rare in London - most have to get buses or walk to parks or sports grounds.
Otherwise aim for schools attached to senior schools as they will use the senior facilities and often the senior PE teachers also teach the junior department. So Putney High, Surbiton High (not as mega academic but still very good), LEH, Highgate, Alleyn's.

One!! And you are declaring her spirited and high-energy and therefore suited to sport and academia??

Hilarious!

Honestly, don’t even think about sport until she’s at least 5. Baby ballet maybe, and swimming, but otherwise trips to the park, riding a bike etc will all do more for he physical development than formal learning.

Fwiw, my dd is very high level sport. And was also a high energy one year old. We could have gone for sports scholarships, but decided against it schools tend to insist kids represent the school- so they get forced into netball, hockey etc, and it leaves very little time for extracurricular- say she turns out to be good at judo, or gymnastics, it gets very difficult to do that out of school and keep up with commitments in school, plus weekend and after school matches etc.

Find a school you like. If you have the money for private you can switch to a school that suits her better at 7, 11 or 16.

Oh missed she is one - suspect you have a wee while to decide what she is likely to be like & what might suit her OP
See what she is like nearer the time.

I totally agree that a very sporty child can actually be held back by a very sporty school, unless the school competes in that sport at a high enough level for the school training to be useful (unlikely once you hit county level and above).

Even my DS(9) could already really do without his weekly school swimming lesson because it doesn't help him and is a hassle given the other 6.5 hrs of swimming he does a week. I'd pull him out of it, but I know they won't let me.

There are numerous weekends when he can't sail (which he loves) because he HAS to play in school rugby/hockey/cricket matches (which he hates/hates/abides).

OP, I don't think you'd be wrong to look for a school with an outdoorsy/active ethos though as, personally, I think that's better for any child.

Make sure you ask how often they do sport. Where I work (Esher/Claygate) the children do sport every day, as a proper lesson, not just extra curricular offerings. Not all schools do this.

Out of interest, what sports does your one year old daughter think she will like in 5 to 10 years' time?